Real estate prices shot up a few years ago because of low supply and high demand from the many Californians who came here to escape the horrendous real estate prices in their state. Many were investors who made a fortune because of Nevada's lower real estate prices. On the obverse side, many properties went into foreclosures when the real estate bubble did burst.

Don't categorize homeowners as being greedy or unwilling to be realistic in their home pricing. I am very realistic.

John Rago

LAS VEGAS

Energy bill

To the editor:

This month we celebrated the 231st anniversary of our independence as a nation. Unfortunately, we are not able to celebrate another independence -- freedom from our addiction to imported oil. A great part of that imported oil comes from some of the most volatile regions in the world -- the Middle East and Nigeria to name but two. Other large quantities come from countries with which we have a very contentious relationship -- Venezuela comes to mind. Our economy is dependent upon these imports, so in a sense our country is at risk unless we can reduce our dependence on imported oil.

The recent action by the U.S. Senate in passing a sweeping energy bill is good news. One of its central features is a requirement to increase fuel efficiency in the vehicles we drive. In the 1970s, automobile fuel efficiency was less than 14 miles per gallon. Congress then passed Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency standards, known as CAFE standards, and within a decade the fuel average had doubled to 27.5 miles per gallon. By so doing we saved 1.5 million barrels of oil a day.

As a newly elected senator in 1990, I introduced legislation to improve the CAFE standards. Unfortunately, political opposition by the U.S. auto industry and the United Auto Workers, contending that such legislation would cost jobs and market share for the American auto industry, carried the day and we were unsuccessful. If this legislation had been enacted, we would be saving an additional 2.5 million barrels of oil a day -- roughly what we currently import from the Middle East.

As Sen. Harry Reid's former colleague, I want to commend him for his extraordinary leadership in securing Senate passage of this energy legislation. The same forces that defeated my legislation more than a decade ago were again at work trying to scuttle this energy bill. It is a testament to Sen. Reid's legislative prowess that he was able to overcome their opposition.

Richard H. Bryan

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER WAS GOVERNOR OF NEVADA FROM 1983-1989 AND REPRESENTED NEVADA IN THE U.S. SENATE FROM 1989-2001.

Professional choice

To the editor:

Because more and more teachers in Clark County have expressed discontent with their representative unit, the Clark County Education Association, the Teamsters have decided to throw their hat in the ring.

But the fact of the matter is neither the association nor the Teamsters is looking out for the best interests of teachers. Teachers are professionals who deserve a professional organization that will engender the type of respect and recognition that unions do not bring to the table. The Teamsters are no better a solution to the concerns of the teachers of Clark County than the association.

The militant labor union mentality is inherently wrong for teachers. Industrial-style unionism neither advances the respect and compensation that educators deserve nor does it improve the quality of education for kids.

Teachers have been tasked with the education of our nation's children, and must be the best and the brightest. The union model rewards teachers who act in a way that belies the nature of their profession. If teachers strive to be taken seriously as a profession, they need to align themselves with groups whose priorities do not center on political agendas that have little to do with the classroom.

It's understandable that Clark County's educators are wondering if there are better options than a union. The answer is yes. In fact, there is a groundswell among America's teachers, who are leaving traditional teacher labor unions to join non-union professional associations. Nearly 300,000 teachers nationwide have opted to join non-union educators associations such as the Association of American Educators, which has members in all 50 states. Members can get most of the benefits that the unions provide but at a fraction of the cost.

Clark County teachers have a unique opportunity to do what's best for their profession and for the kids they teach. There have indeed been problems with the Clark County Education Association's representation, and teachers should want change.

However, the Teamsters outdated labor model is no more appropriate for today's teachers than is the National Education Association. Teachers deserve a professional choice.

Gary Beckner

MISSION VIEJO, CALIF.

THE WRITER IS CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN EDUCATORS.